Snubbed truck



April7, 1959 F RQUINN 2,880,680

SNUBBED TRUCK Filed June 15. 1955 United States Patent O SNUBBED TRUCKFrank P. Quinn, University City, Mo., assignor to American SteelFoundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application June15, 1955, Serial No. 515,642

6 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 224) This invention relates to railway car trucksand more particularly to snubbing and supporting arrangements for arailway car truck.

The invention comprehends a novel arrangement wherein side frames areresiliently supported adjacent their respective ends by spaced wheel andaxle assemblies and a bolster is supported by the side frames.

Although antifriction type bearings have been employed successfully injournal arrangements for high speed passenger car trucks, their use infreight car trucks has presented problems.

As modern rolling stock permits freight cars to be pulled at relativelyhigh speeds, it is highly desirable that a journal arrangement beprovided which will successfully accommodate antifriction bearings,

After extensive research and experimentation, it was discovered that byproviding for controlled freedom of lateral motion between the sideframe and the Wheel and axle assemblies, an arrangement utilizingantifriction bearings would prove highly successful.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a railway car truckarrangement affording maximum freedom of lateral motion between the sideframes and the Wheel and axle assemblies.

Another object is the provision of an arrangement affording both primaryand secondary clearances between the side frames and the wheel and axleassemblies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway car trucksupporting arrangement, wherein the side frame is resiliently supportedfrom a yoke saddled on the journal box of the wheel and axle assembly.

Another object is the provision of a journal supported side framearrangement that may be adapted to a journal box housing either frictionor antifriction bearings.

Another object is the provision of a snubbing arrangement, whereinfriction means carried in the side frame adjacent the journal openingcooperate with a yoke to dampen the vertical oscillation of the frame.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of anarrangement for resiliently supporting the side frame from the journalbox which comprises a yokesaddled on the journal box to resilientlysupport the side frame and friction means in the frame frictionallyengaging the yoke to dampen the vertical oscillation of the truck.

Another object of the invention is the provision of self.

2,880,680 Patented Apr. 7, 1959 "ice Figure 3a is a fragmentarytransverse sectional view taken on line 3a-3a of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating a modified formof the invention.

It will be noted that certain elements have been intentionally omittedfrom certain views when they are believed to be illustrated to betteradvantage in other views.

Describing the invention in detail, and referring to the drawings for abetter understanding of the invention, it will be seen that the railwaycar truck comprises a side frame indicated generally at 10 whichis'supported by a wheel and axle assembly indicated generally at 11.

The side frame comprises tension and compression members 12 and 14,respectively, which are merged at their ends to form end portions 16.The endportions each comprise spaced inner and outer pedestal jaws 18and 20, respectively, which define a journal opening 24 therebetween.

The side frame is of preferably tubular construction and is providedwith a spring cavity 26 in each end portion 16 immediately adjacent theupper portion of journal opening 24. The end portion 16 is provided witha spring seat 28 at the upper end of the spring cavity 26.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thepedestal jaws 18 and 20 each have a friction pocket 30 adjacent thejournal box opening 24.

1 Each friction pocket comprises outboard and inboard side walls 32 and34 which are interconnected by rear, top, and bottom walls 36, 38, and40, respectively. The upper side of the bottom wall or floor 40 may beprovided with a spring seat 42. The friction pockets each contain a wall44 sloping upwardly toward the journal opening and formed integrallywith the top and bottom Walls. Each Wall 44 presents spaced wedgesurfaces 46 on the underside thereof.

`Outer pedestal jaw 20 may be provided/with a generally horizontal plate50, secured thereto as by nut and bolt assembly 52, which is operativeto retain the journal assembly, as hereinafter described, in position.

Positioned in each friction pocket 30 is a substantially box shapedfriction shoe 54. Each shoe 54 comprises a generally vertical front wall60 presenting an outer friction surface 62, spaced forwardly slopingwalls 56 presenting Wedge surfaces 58 on the upper sides thereof, andspaced side walls 64 interconnected by a top Wall 68 which has a springseat on the underside thereof. A

y spring 72, interposed between the bottom wall 40 of the pocket andspring seat 70 of the friction shoe, resiliently supports the shoewithin the pocket. v

The wheel and axle assembly 11 may be provided with either friction orantifriction type bearings (not shown) housed in a journal box 76 whichis disposed within the journal opening 24 of the side frame.

The journal box 76, as seen in Figure 1, is representativeA of anystandard journal box comprising a relatively flat upper Wall 78 andgenerally curved lower wall 79,

ywhich are interconnected by integrally formed vertical side walls 80.The outer sides of wall 80 present horizontally spaced verticallyextending flanges 81 defining a vertical slot 83 therebetween, thefunction of which is hereinafter described.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that a substantiallyU-shaped yoke 82 is positioned in journal opening 24 and saddled overthe journal box 76. The yoke 82 preferably comprises a flat horizontaltop Wall 84, provided on its upper side lwith a spring seat 86, anddepending vertical side walls 88. The side Walls 88 are spaced from eachother to form an opening 90 therebetween for receipt of the journal box76. The inner sides of Walls 88 present tongues 92 of appreciable widthextending vertically within journal box slots 83 so as to I engage theflanges 81 of the journal box,

By forming tongues 92 of lesser width than the distance between theflanges 31 of the journal box, a primary set of clearances is affordedbetween the respective members. As best seen in Figure 3a the clearancebetween yoke tongue 92 and journal box flanges 81 are as small aspracticalA Working tolerances will permit for interchange of parts andassembly of the device, thus permitting only minimal lateral movementbetween the journal box and yoke so that as a practical matter, thejournal box and yoke will move laterally as a unit.

The outer sides of the walls 88 may be provided with friction surfaces93 which may be frictionally engaged by surfaces 62 of the friction shoe54 whereby lateral as well as vertical movement between the side frameand yoke is snubbed or damped by the engagement between the side frameand the friction shoe. Flanges 9d preferably formed integrally with thewalls 88 of the yoke serve to engage the outer Walls of the side frameto retain the yoke in position laterally with respect to the side frame.

As best seen in Figure 2, a secondary set of clearances is affordedbetween anges 94 and the outer walls of the side frame. The clearancesof this secondary set are ap preciable and, of course, in excess of theclearances between the yoke tongue 92 and journal box flanges 81, as canbe seen in Figure 3, and therefore permit limited free lateral movementbetween the side frame and wheel and axle assemblies, which movement issnubbed by shoes 54 in the manner previously described.

A preferably coil spring 95 may be positioned between the spring seats86 of the yoke and 28 of the side frame, respectively, to affordresilient support for the side frame from the yoke.

In the embodiment illustrated, a bearing pad 96 is positioned betweenthe upper surface of the upper journal box wall 78 and the undersurfaceof the yoke horizontal top wall 845s. lt will be understood that as theweight of the truck frame is carried by the yoke, through spring 9S,which rests on the journal box roof, or on the bed 96, which in turnrests on the journal box roof, relative vertical movement between thejournal box and the yoke is virtually non-existent so that they can beconsidered to move vertically as an integral unit for all practicalpurposes. Thus, the snubbing action between related friction surfaces 62and 93 of the shoe and yoke, respectively, also serves to snub verticalmovement of the truck frame relative to the wheel and axle assembliesassociated with the journal boxes.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the tension andcompression members of the side frames are spaced from each otherintermediate their ends to form a substantially rectangular bolsteropening 98 having sides defined by spaced vertical columns 10ft whichare formed integrally with and interconnect the tension and compressionmembers.

A bolster 102 may be supported by the side frames in any desired manner.In the embodiment illustrated, the bolster presents an end section 104which is received in the bolster opening 98 and supported by the tensionmember 12 of the side frame. The bolster end section 104, as seen incross section, is preferably rectangular and comprises substantiallyhorizontal fiat top and bottom walls 106 and 198, respectively,interconnected by spaced vertical side walls 110. provided with spaceddepending flanges 112 which serve to retain the bottom wall surface 114of the bolster andv the upper surface 116 of the tension member in rmcontinuous engagement and to limit the motion of the bolster in adirection transversely of the truck.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be noted that the embodimentillustrated herein comprehends an arrangement wherein self-aligningbearing means are interposed between the bolster and the side frame.

In this embodiment, the lower surface 11411 of the bolster end sectionand upper surface 116er of the tension' The bottom wall 108 may beVmember are formed concavely, as seen in-section, to receive and retainan antifriction bearing 117a therebetween. It will be apparent thatbecause of the shape of the opening of the bearing surfaces, the bearingtends to seek its lowermost position and thus is self-aligning. In thisembodiment it will be noted that more clearance is afforded between theflanges 112a and the tension member 12 to permit greater lateral motion`of the bolster with respect to the side frame.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the sideframe is shown as having friction means in both pedestals. However, ifdesired, the friction shoe snubbing arrangement can be limited to onepedestal in which case the other pedestal will be provided with aconventional friction plate engageable with the friction surface of theadjacent vertical wall of the yoke.

To assemble the journal arrangement, the friction shoes and springs areinserted from the inner sides of the pedestal and temporarily pinned inposition by pins (not shown). The pad or block 96 is placed over thejournal box and the yoke is saddled over the plate so clearance isprovided between tongues 92 of the yoke and flanges 81 of the journalbox. Springs 9S are then placed in the spring seat of the yoke and theside frames, and the bolster is positioned between the side frames.After assembly, the retaining pins are removed from the friction shoes.

I claim:

l. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprisingspaced pedestal jaws delining a journal opening therebetween, a journalbox positioned in said opening, a substantiallyy U-shaped yokepositioned over said.' box in said opening, said yoke having a top wallsupported by said journalV box and presenting a spring seat on the upperside thereof and having depending spaced side walls formed integrallywith said top Wallv and presenting outer friction surfaces and innerjournal box engaging surfaces, spring means interposed between saidspring seat and said frame to resiliently support said frame from saidyoke, said jaws defining pockets adjacent said journal opening, wedgesurfaces in said pockets, a friction shoe positioned in each of saidpockets and presenting a wedge surface engageable with the wedge surfaceof the pocket and a friction surface engageable with the adjacentfriction surface of said yoke and spring means in each of said pocketscompressibly interposed between the friction shoe and a wall of thepocket and being operable to urge the wedge and friction surfaces of therelated shoe into engagement with the wedge and friction surfaces of thepocket and yoke, respectively.

2. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprisingspaced pedestal jaws dening a journal opening therebetween, said jawseach having a pocket therein adjacent said opening, wedge walls in saidpockets, a journal box in said opening, a yoke positioned in saidopening between said journal box and said frame and having an upper walland side Walls depending therefrom, spring means positioned between saidupper wall and said frame, a friction shoe positioned in each of saidpockets having wedge and friction walls engageable with the Wedge wallsof the pockets and the adjacent side wall of the yoke, respectively, andspring means in each of said pockets operable to urge the wedge andfriction Walls of the related shoe into engagement with the wedge andfriction walls of the pocket and yoke, respectively.

3. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame having spacedpedestal jaws defining a journal opening therebetween, a pocket in oneof said jaws adjacentsaid opening, a Wedge wall in said pocket, ajournal box in said opening, a yoke saddled on said box in said opening,means interconnecting said journal box and yoke to restrict lateralmovement therebetween, spring means interposed between said yoke andsaid frame, in-

terlockingI means interconnecting the yoke and frame assoso and aordinglimited lateral movement therebetween, and means to damp both verticaland lateral movement between the yoke and side frame, said lastmentioned means comprising a friction shoe disposed in said pockethaving wedge and friction walls engageable with the pocket wedge walland a vertical friction wall of the yoke, respectively, and spring meansin said pocket operable to urge the wedge and friction walls of the shoeinto frictional engagement with the wedge and friction walls of theframe and yoke, respectively.

4. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprisingspaced pedestal jaws defining a journal opening therebetween, asubstantially U-shaped yoke removably positioned in said opening, saidyoke comprising a horizontal wall and spaced vertical walls formedintegrally therewith and depending therefrom, said horizontal wallpresenting a spring seat on the upper side thereof, said vertical wallspresenting friction surfaces on the outer sides thereof, and presentingtongues on the inner sides thereof, a journal box positioned under saidhorizontal wall and intermediate said vertical walls presenting anges onthe sides thereof engageable with said tongues to restrict lateralmovement between the yoke and journal box, spring means positioned onsaid spring seat to resiliently support said frame from said yoke, andfriction snubbing means positioned in said jaws and engageable with thefriction surfaces of the vertical Walls of said yoke to damp verticalmovement of the side frame relative to the yoke and journal box.

5. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprisingspaced pedestal jaws defining a journal opening therebetween, a journalbox positioned in said opening, a yoke positioned in said opening, saidyoke being supported by and embracing said journal box, said yoke havingvertical abutment surfaces engageable with oppositely facing verticalabutment surfaces ofthe journal box to permit minimal lateral movementbetween the yoke and journal box, said yoke having other verticalsurfaces engageable with oppositely facing vertical abutment surfaces ofthe side frame jaws to permit limited lateral movement between said yokeand jaws which movement is in excess of said first mentioned movement,and spring means interposed between the yoke and the side frame tosupport the latter by the former.

6. A railway car truck according to claim 5, and including frictionsnubbing means carried by at least one of saws for engagement with saidyoke to damp both vertical and lateral movement between the yoke andside frame.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,194,349 Barber Aug. 15, 1916 2,063,739 Hedgcock et al. Dec. 8, 19362,355,450 Leese Aug. 8, 1944 2,720,848 Couch Oct. 18, 1955 2,777,402Rossell Ian. 15, 1957

